Wrench.



T. S. MOPFETT.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1908.

908,595. Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

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WRENCH.

APIVLIOATION FILED MAY 23, 1908.

Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

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THOMAS S. MOFFETT, OF ALMIRA, WASHINGTON.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

Application filed May 23, 1908. Serial No. 434,646.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS S. MoFFnTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Almira, in the county of Lincoln and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of wrenches in which the wrench-jaws are carried by a rotatable head which is operated by a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved pawl-and-ratchet mechanism whereby the direction of rotation of the head may be reversed, and also to provide improved means for adjusting the jaws to difierent-sized work.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the wrench. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the wrench-head, the jaws being removed. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the pawl. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the wedge for operating the jaws. Fig. 7 is an elevation, and Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the aws. Fig. 9 is an edge View of the ratchet-head. Fig. 10 is an elevation and Fig. 11 a plan view of the nut for operating the wedge. Fig. 12 is a sectional detail of the ratchet head.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 15 denotes the handle of the wrench at one end of which is an enlargement 16 having a circular o ening 17 to receive a ratchet-head 18 whic carries the wrench-jaws 19. The ratchet-head is held in place in the opening 17 by annular plates 20 secured to opposite sides of the enlargement by screws 21 or other suitable means. Adjacent the enlargement 16, longitudinal recesses 22 are made in opposite edges of the handle 15 which recesses communicate with slots 23 in the wall of the enlargement. The slots communicate with the opening 17, and in said slots are pivoted at 24 pawls 25 engageable with the teeth of the ratchet-head. The pawls have long shanks 26 which extend into the recesses 22 and said shanks are engageable on their undersides by springs 27 whereby the pawls are pressed into engagement with the ratchet-teeth. In the recesses 22 are mounted slides 28 which work in grooves in opposite walls of the recesses. These slides are located so that their inner ends may engage an incline 29 on the back of the pawls for throwing them out of operation.

Upon moving the slides forwardly their inner ends engage the inclines 29 whereby the pawls are swung on their pivots out of the path of the ratchet-teeth. One or the other of the pawls may thus be thrown out of action whereby the rotation of the ratchethead is reversed. The outer surface of the slides are roughened so that they may be readily taken hold of. Upon withdrawing the inner ends of the slides from the incline 29 the springs 27 throw the pawls into operative position.

The wrench-jaws 19 have reduced inner ends to form shanks 30 which seat in an opening 31 in the ratchet-head 18. The opposite end walls 32 of the opening 31 are beveled and the abutting surfaces of the shanks 30 are shaped accordingly so that when said shanks move up or down in the slot the jaws approach each other or recede so that they may be adjusted for different-sized work. This adjustment is made by means of a wedge-shaped member 33 which extends between the shanks 30 and having inclined branches which enter downwardly inclined transverse openings 34 in said shanks. The wedge member has a screw-threaded shank 35 which projects from one side of the enlargement 16. On said projecting end of the stem is screwed a nut 36 having at its base a flange 37 engageable with the late 20 on that side of the enlargement. y means of this nut the wedge may be drawn back and forth whereby the wrench-j aws are adjusted. Between the jaws is mounted a spring 38 for opening them. When the wedge member is pushed forwardly the jaws spread as shown y dotted lines in Fig. 12, this movement being assisted by the s ring 38. Upon drawing the wedge inwar ly the jaws approach each other. The opposite faces of the shanks 30 are also grooved longitudinally as indicated at 39 to receive the screw when the jaws are set close together for small work.

By the construction herein described the adjustment of the jaws is readily'effected and they will be securely held in adjusted posithe jaws and the sides of the opening having In testimony whereof i aflix my signature, straight abutting inclined surfaces and the in presence of tWo Witnesses.

shanks having inclined transverse openings therein, a Wedge-member having a head with THOMAS MOFFETT' inclined branches extending into the shank- Witnesses:

openings, and means for operating the Wedge- SAMUEL GARBER, member. W. W. WASHINGTON. 

